KUWAIT CITY, July 7: The head of the Kuwaiti Society for Sustainable Energy, Engineer Suad Al-Hussein said following the implementation of the royal directive Kuwait will produce 15% of electricity from renewable energy sources and save the nation approximately 4,600 million barrels of oil annually worth about 400 million dinars annually, with the average price of 88 dinars per barrel according to current global prices. In an exclusive interview with Al- Seyassah daily, Al-Hussein emphasized the urgent need to establish the Kuwait Center for Renewable Energy, urging the Council of Ministers to make a swift decision to advance Kuwait’s renewable energy initiatives.

She explained that this center would serve as a hub of expertise, providing resources, statistics, and space for experiments and studies in renewable energy. It would also unify all national efforts, as currently, responsible agencies work in isolation without shared data or statistics that could aid decision-makers. Al-Hussein noted that the regional center would act as a reference for all Gulf and Arab centers, highlighting Kuwait’s historic role as a pioneer in adopting modern scientific, intellectual, and cultural ideas. She mentioned that the Sustainable Energy Association continuously coordinates with all parties involved in renewable energy to achieve more progress in this crucial and essential field, especially given global challenges such as rising temperatures and environmental pollution, which necessitate expanding renewable energy projects as an alternative to fossil fuels. She also stated that a meeting is planned between the association and the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy to discuss ways to educate citizens on the application of legislation for purchasing energy from them.

This includes informing citizens about the installation, maintenance, and cleaning of solar panels, as well as the benefits of using them to save traditional energy and gain financial returns. Engineer Suad Al-Hussein, head of the Kuwaiti Society for Sustainable Energy, indicated that within four years of installing solar panels, citizens will not pay for electricity consumption but will instead earn returns from selling energy to the electrical network under the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy. She added that the authorities are making significant efforts to implement renewable energy projects following the success of the Al-Shaqaya pilot project, which produces 70 megawatts of renewable energy. Plans are underway to expand this project to produce an additional 1,100 megawatts, with approvals obtained and a decision from the Council of Ministers expected soon.

Al-Hussein pointed out that global and local changes, such as climate change and Kuwait’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, necessitate a shift toward renewable energy. The authorities in Kuwait are actively preparing to launch and implement various energy projects in response. She highlighted the importance of the 2022 legislation on purchasing energy from citizens, which will bring a significant shift in renewable energy reliant on solar panels.

The Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy has made substantial progress in coordinating with regulatory bodies to finalize this comprehensive and gap-free legislation, which is expected to be approved soon. Initially, the legislation focused on private housing, benefiting citizens by encouraging the installation of solar panels, which can provide up to 40% of a home’s energy needs. Smart inverters will be installed to maximize the use of renewable energy from citizens’ homes, supplying it to the electrical grid and purchasing it from the citizen at a set price per kilowatt.

Al-Hussein stressed the need for state and private sector support to motivate citizens to install solar panels, suggesting good loans to cover the project’s cost, which has significantly decreased from 50,000 dinars to around 10,000 dinars for a 400 square meter house over the past decade due to advancements in technology and global competition. She advocated for the use of renewable energy as a national project that would create job opportunities for Kuwaiti youth, similar to the renewable energy job market in Germany. She also called for the inclusion of renewable energy specializations in engineering colleges and scientific institutes to prepare for the promising future of this field.

Al-Hussein praised the housing welfare decision requiring new buildings to use 10-15% renewable energy and suggested increasing the percentage for the commercial and industrial sectors up to 25% based on feasibility studies. She also recommended applying these requirements to existing buildings, as long as technical and financial feasibility is ensured. She emphasized that exploiting renewable energy is a global trend and essential for Kuwait to follow. She recalled the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad’s initiative in 1978 to install solar panels in Germany, highlighting Kuwait’s pioneering spirit.

Al-Hussein urged the Ministry of Education to install solar panels on school rooftops, utilizing the energy generated to support neighboring buildings during after-school hours. She explained that failing to implement this initiative would be a waste of energy and emphasized the need for a decision from the Council of Ministers to approve this trend. She also suggested that buildings along the Gulf Coast could install solar panels on their roofs through a decision from the Tourism Projects Company, and that cooperative societies should be required to produce 50% of their electricity from solar panels, which would require a decision from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Additionally, solar panels could be installed on all lighting poles.

Suad Al-Hussein, head of the Kuwaiti Society for Sustainable Energy, mentioned that the organization was declared a public benefit association in 2022. Its mission is to educate society about the importance of sustainable energy and work alongside executive authorities to achieve the vision set by the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad in 2012, aiming to produce 15% of Kuwait’s electricity from sustainable energy. Since its establishment in 2018, the Association has conducted numerous activities and events, and it includes an elite group of specialists among its members.

Al-Hussein reiterated that within four years of installing solar panels, citizens will not pay for electricity consumption. She stressed the importance of motivating citizens to install solar panels through good loans and educating them on maintenance methods. She also highlighted the potential for significant energy savings and environmental benefits from these initiatives. Al-Hussein called for comprehensive support from both the state and private sectors to make these projects feasible, ensuring that Kuwait remains at the forefront of renewable energy adoption.

By Mohammed Ghanem
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff